Hat blocking device



Nov. 12, 1957 J. A. PALINKAS HAT BLOCKING DEVICE Filed Jan. 5, 195a "'li'l'llllll Illil'lff'lllIlJ/Ifllllll'l James A Pa/inkas IN VEN TOR.

United tates Patent() HAT BLOCKING DEVICE James A. Palinkas, Norwalk, Conn.

Application January 5, 1956, Serial No. 557,482

Claims. (Cl. 223-24) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in blockers, particularly for Cavenaugh edge hats and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of this character com prising novel inflatable means utilizing air pressure for expeditiously shaping the hat.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a hat blocking device of the aforementioned character which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, compact, highly eflicient and reliable in use and which may be manufactured at low cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view, showing a hat blocking device constructed in accordance with the present invention in use;

Figure 2 is a view in vertical section through the device;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the foraminous form, showing the crown and brim members separated; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in perspective, showing a method of detachably connecting the crown and brim members of the form.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a base or brim board 3 of wood or other suitable material. The base 3, which may be of any desired dimensions, has mounted therebetween supporting legs 4.

Mounted on the base 3 is a bladder or balloon 5 of rubber or other suitable resilient material. The bladder 5 is aflixed to one end portion of an inflating tube 6 which extends upwardly through the base 3.

Reference character 7 designates generally a foraminous form to be mounted on the base 3 over a hat to be blocked, as indicated at 8. The form 7 includes a dome member 9 of suitable screen wire having its lower portion aifixed to a wire base ring 10 comprising outwardly projecting lugs or fingers 11 at diametrically opposite points, said dome member 9 being for the reception of the crown 12 of the hat 8. The form 7 further includes a foraminous brim flange 13 comprising on its inner periphery a wire ring 14. The ring 14 is provided, at diametrically opposite points with upstanding loops or U-shaped portions 15 in which the lugs or fingers 11 are engageable for detachably securing the members 9 and 13 together. The rings 10 and 14 are sufliciently resilient to permit the members 9 and 13 to be so connected. The flange 13 is engageable on the brim 16 of the hat 8.

Mounted for swinging movement on the base 3 is a skeletonized clamp 17 for securing the hat 8 and the form 7 on said base over the bladder 5. The clamp 17 includes spaced inner and outer rings 18 and 19, respectively, of suitable wire connected by radial rods 20. The outer ring 19 is pivotally connected, at spaced points, to

-.Patented Nov. 12, 195.7

the base 3, as indicated at 21. Projecting from the outer ring 19 at a point remote from the pivotal connections or hinges 21 is an operating handle 22. A latch 23 is rotatably mounted on the front portion of the base 3 and engageable over the handle 22 for releasably locking the clamp 17 in lowered or operative position.

It is thought that the use or operation of the blocker will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the hat to be blocked, as indicated at 8, is heated and mounted on the base 3 over the deflated bladder 5. A flange 13 of the correct size is then mounted on the brim 16 of the hat 8. A dome 9 of the correct size is then mounted on the crown 12 of the hat 8 and secured to the flange 13 by engaging the lugs or fingers 11 in the upstanding loops 15 of the ring 14. The clamp 17 is then swung downwardly on the flange 13 and secured by the latch 23. Of course, the inner ring 18 of the clamp 17 is of a size to accommodate the dome 9 of the form 7. Through the medium of the flexible tube 6 the bladder 5 is then inflated for expanding the hat crown tightly against the walls of the dome 9. This operation also pulls the brim 16 of the hat 8 inwardly flush with the outer periphery. of the foraminous flange 13. The hat may now be readily sprinkled with cooling water through the foraminous members 9 and 13 of the form 7. The bladder 5 is then deflated and the clamp 17 is released at 23 and swung upwardly to permit removal of the blocked hat. The construction and arrangement of parts is such that the complete operation may be performed in a relatively short time and with a minimum of labor.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A hat blocking device of the character described comprising: a base for receiving a heated hat thereon, a foraminous form engageable over the hat on the base, a clamp pivotally mounted for swinging movement on the base and engageable with the form for securing same on said base with the hat therebetween, and a resilient bladder onthe base engageable in the hat and cooperable with the form for pressing and shaping said hat therebetween, said clamp being skeletonized to facilitate sprinkling the hat with water and accelerate the cooling thereof.

2. A hat blocking device of the character described comprising: a base for receiving a heated hat thereon, a form adapted to be mounted on the hat, said form including a foraminous flange engageable on the brim of the hat and a foraminous dome for the reception of the hat crown, means detachably securing said flange and said dome together, means for securing the form on the base with the hat therebetween, and inflatable means on the base engageable in the hat crown and cooperable with the dome for pressing and shaping said crown therebetween, the second named means comprising a substantially circular clamp pivotally mounted on the base for encircling the dome for engaging the flange, said clamp being skeletonized to facilitate sprinkling the brim with water and accelerate the cooling thereof.

3. A hat blocking device of the character described comprising: a base for receiving a hat thereon, a form for mounting on the hat, said form including a foraminous dome for the reception of the hat crown and further including a foraminous flange engageable on the hat brim, means for detachably connecting the dome to the flange, a clamp for securing the form and the hat on the base,

said clamp including an inner ring for the reception of the dome and an outer ring spaced from said inner ring and hingedly secured on the base, an operating handle for the clamp mounted on said outer ring, means for 'releasably locking theclamp in operative position on the base, and inflatable means on said baseengageable in the hat crown and cooperable with the dome for pressing and shaping said crown therebetween. i

4. A hat blocking device of the character described comprising: a base for receiving a hat thereon, a form engageable over the hat, said form comprising a flange engageable on the brim of the hat, said flange including a flat, forarninous annularmember and a wire ring on the inner periphery thereof, said wire ring including upstanding loops at diametrically opposite points, said form further comprising a foraminous dome for the reception of the hat crown and a wire ring on the bottom portion of said dome, the second-named wire ring including outwardly projecting lugs at diametrically opposite points engageable in the loops for detachably connecting said dome to said flange, inflatable means on the base engageable in the hat crown and cooperable with the dome for pressing and shaping said crown therebetween, and means for securing the form on the base with the hat therebetween.

5. A hat blocking device of the character described comprising: a base for receiving a hat thereon, a form engageable over the hat, said form comprising a flange engageable on the brim of the hat, said flange including a flat, foraminous annular member 'and a wire ring on the inner periphery thereof, said wire ring including upstanding loops at diametrically opposite points, said form further comprising a foraminous dome for the reception of the hat crown and a wire ring on the bottom portion of said dome, the second-named wire ring including outwardly projecting lugs at diametrically opposite points engageable in the loops for detachably connecting said dome to said flange, inflatable means on the base engageable in the hat crown and cooperable with the dome for pressing and shaping said crown therebetween, and means for securing the form on the base with the hat therebetween, the last-named means including a clamp mounted for vertical swinging movement on the base, said clamp including spaced inner and outer rings engageable on said flange, means pivotaliy connecting said outer ring to the base, an operating handle mounted on said outer ring, and a latch on the base engageable with the handle for releasably securing the clamp in operative position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,111,363 Chiniquy et a1 Sept. 22, 1914 1,223,733 Riday Apr. 24, 1917 1,527,801 Holttum et a1 Feb. 24, 1925 2,038,698 Wolkenhaver Apr. 28, 1936 

